Tips for people with special needs

Those needing assistance in evacuating should contact their local campus police office or advisor before the start of class so arrangements for evacuation can be made ahead of time. Preparation, which includes practice, is the key to success in dealing with a disaster. Preparation is an ongoing process. Keep in mind that the usual means of support and assistance may not be available during or after an emergency.

GENERAL TIPS:

Discuss your emergency plans with your faculty or advisor.

Find a buddy who could walk with you to assist you if other means of transportation are unavailable.

Notify Campus Police to add you to a list of those with special needs.

Keep a list of people who can help and their telephone numbers.

Visit Disability 911 for tips and tools for disaster preparedness

Emergency 2.0 Wiki Accessibility Toolkit

Prepare for Cold Weather

People with Visual Disabilities

If you use a cane, keep a spare cane with you to help you maneuver around obstacles and hazards.

Service animals may become confused, panicked, frightened, or disoriented during and after an emergency. Keep them securely leashed, harnessed, or confined. Be prepared to use alternate

ways to negotiate your environment.

Ask to have the television and displays of news announced slowly and repeated frequently for those who cannot read the screen.

People with Hearing Disabilities

If possible, have extra batteries for hearing aids and implants, and light phone signaler available.

Determine how you will communicate with emergency personnel if there is no interpreter or if you do not have your hearing aids. Keep paper and pens on you for this purpose.

Consider carrying a pre-printed copy of important messages with you, such as “I speak American Sign Language (ASL) and need an ASL interpreter. I do not write or read English.”

Weather Emergencies

Weather emergencies include:

Winter Weather

Floods

Tornadoes/ Severe Thunderstorms

Power Outage

Evacuation

Severe WeatherSevere weather is any weather that can pose a threat to life and property. The information provided is to give the LSCS community information on how to handle potential severe weather events while visiting one of our campuses.

If severe weather threatens, you should:

Follow instructions as provided by your manager and/or review the information provided on this site

Listen to the radio and television for weather updates, and

Check with your manager or local media for return to work status.

Where to get local weather conditions:Local media outlets will provide updates and information on severe weather. Additionally, RLC officials will update our website at http://www.rlc.edu/ and will notify local media outlets regarding closings and return-to-work situations.

Terrorism

Terrorists look for visible targets where they can avoid detection before or after an attack. While there is no way to predict what will happen or what your personal circumstances will be, there are simple things you can do now to prepare yourself.

Be aware of your surroundings; do not let fear overwhelm you.

If you see what appears to be a dangerous situation, call XT 1911 or (618) 525-1911 and explain your concerns to the Campus Police Officer. The Officer will help determine what actions should be taken.

Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages or backpacks from strangers. Do not leave your personal belongings unattended.

Learn where emergency exits are located and how to quickly evacuate a building or congested public area.

Stay clear of heavy or breakable objects that could move, fall or break in an explosion.

If something occurs, seek safety immediately and listen for campus alerts that will provide you with information and precautions you need to take.

Building Explosion

Know the campus emergency evacuation procedures.Know where the fire exits and fire extinguishers are located, and be able to find them in the dark.Stay away from windows.Immediately get under a sturdy table or desk if things are falling around you.Stay below any smoke at all times.

If trapped in debris:

Use a flashlight, if available to help rescuers locate you.

Stay in your area so you do not kick up dust.

Cover your mouth with your clothing or a handkerchief.

Tap on a pipe or wall so that rescuers can locate you. Shout as a last resort – shouting can cause a person to inhale dangerous amounts of dusts.

If a fire occurs:

Stay low to the floor and exit the building quickly and calmly.

Cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth.

Test closed doors for heat with the palm of your hand and forearm on the lower and upper portions of the door. If it is hot or warm to the touch, do not open. Seek an alternate escape route.

Never use water on an electrical fire.

If caught in smoke – drop to your hands and knees and crawl; breathe shallowly through your nose and use your clothing as a filter.

If you must move through flames – hold your breath, move quickly, cover your head and hair, keep your head down, and close your eyes as much as possible.

If your clothes catch fire “stop, drop, and roll” until the fire is out.

If you are in a room and cannot escape, leave the door closed, stay low to the floor and hang a white or light-colored cloth outside the window.

Bomb Threats

Bomb threats are usually received by telephone, but they may also be received by note, letter, or e-mail. All bomb threats should be taken seriously and handled as though an explosive were in the building.

What to Do When a Bomb Threat Occurs:

If you receive a bomb threat, get as much information from the caller as possible.

Shelter in Place

Were a chemical agent attack or possible active shooter to occur, authorities may instruct people to either seek shelter where they are and seal the premises (shelter-in-place), or evacuate immediately. If the order is to remain on campus or in your building, you will need to follow these directions:

Go inside and stay calm.

Close all doors, windows, and other sources of outside air.

Go into a room with the fewest doors and windows and seal the room.

Turn off air conditioning or heating systems to keep chemical vapors from entering.

Ceiling or rotary fans inside the building may be used safely to keep cool.

Listen for authorities to tell you when it is safe to come out. Tune in to your local emergency radio or television station. For RLC information listen for an announcement over the public address system, monitor computer and visual displays, or await word from local officials.

Please Contact the Campus Police at ext 1911 from a campus phone, or 618-525-1911 from an off campus phone for police emergencies.

Epidemics & Campus Health

Respiratory infections such as colds, coughs and the flu, affect the nose, throat and lungs. The germs (viruses and bacteria) that can cause these infections are spread person-to-person in the air or by physical contact. Tips to help prevent spreading germs or avoiding catching someone else's germs include:

Keep your germs to yourself:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your arm.

Throw out used tissues in the trash as soon as you can.

Always wash your hands after sneezing, blowing your nose, coughing, or after touching used tissues or handkerchiefs. Also wash often if you are sick.

Use warm water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizers to wash your hands.

Try to stay home if you have a cough or fever.

See your doctor as soon as you can if you are feeling ill and follow their instructions.

Do NOT share personal items, such as cigarettes, towels, lipstick, or anything that may be contaminated with respiratory germs.

Crime

Preventing Crime

Crime on Campus:RLC policies prohibit disruption and obstruction of RLC functions and activities, verbal threats, and behavior endangering the health or safety of any individual.

Disruptive behavior interferes with the educational environment or prevents normal work functions or activities. Examples include yelling, using profanity, or refusing reasonable requests for identification.

Threatening behavior includes physical actions short of actual contact or injury (e.g., moving closer aggressively), or oral or written threats to people or property (“I’ll get you,” “I’ll break it”), or implicit threats (“this isn’t over”).

Violent behavior includes any physical assault, with or without weapons; behavior a reasonable person would interpret as being potentially violent (e.g., throwing things, pounding on a desk or door) or specific threats to inflict physical harm (e.g., a threat to shoot someone).

You should report immediately when an individual is:

Engaging in persistent, obsessive attention to others

Intimidating, verbally abusing, harassing or mistreating others

Engaging in stalking behavior

Making threatening references to other incidents of violence

Making threats to harm self, others or property

Detailing specific proposed act(s) of disruption or violence

Expressing feelings of revenge, or being wronged, humiliated, or degraded.

If you feel threatened or in danger you should:

Find a way to excuse yourself; leave the room or area, and get help.

Not mention the police if you fear an angry or violent response.

Signal for assistance.

Not isolate yourself with an individual you believe may be dangerous. Maintain a safe distance, do not turn your back, and stay seated, if possible. Leave a door open, open a closed door, or sit near the door.

NEVER try to remove him/her from the area. An agitated individual who may respond with violence towards you may interpret even a gentle push or grabbing an arm as an assault.

Report all disruptive, threatening, or violent behavior to RLC Police at xt 1911 or 618-525-1911 at any time or other campus representatives.

Be prepared to answer:

Type of emergency

Your telephone number

Your name

Your location and the location of the emergency (if different)

A description of individuals, if applicable

A description of vehicles, if applicable

The responding person will discuss the course of action. If necessary, a follow-up will be conducted later.

The RLC Chief of Police will review all reports of campus violence for possible follow-up by the Campus Threat Assessment Team.

Crime prevention...ensuring the safety of the RLC community is a group effort – we all must do our part. Be informed and get involved. When working, visiting, or attending classes on campus, keep in mind the following:

Report any suspicious persons or activities to the Police Department xt 1911 or 618-525-1911.

Do not prop open entrances to buildings or rooms.

Clear your desk and computer of sensitive information and lock your work areas every time you leave.

Report all maintenance problems to your campus Facilities.

Use the escort services rather than walk alone at night.

Be mindful of your surroundings.

Report lost keys and access cards immediately.

Important Things That Can be Done to Reduce the Effects of an Emergency:

Make sure you have a support system in place. Create a “buddy system” that can help you prepare for a disaster, as well as during and after a disaster. Members of your support system, or “buddies”, can be classmates, staff, faculty, friends, and co-workers. They should be people you trust to determine if you need assistance. Your support-system members should know your capabilities and needs, and be able to help in a matter of minutes.

Gather the supplies you will need before, during, and after an emergency. Your emergency supply kit should also include supplies specific to your disability (writing or hearing devices, additional medication, wheelchair, walker, etc.).

Make sure your area is as safe as possible in the event of an emergency. One of the best ways to avoid possible injuries and stay safe, is to prepare your work area while on campus before an emergency (move furniture or other items that may block your escape route, keep a small flash light near you in case of power outage, and know where your personal belongings are at all times).

Reminder to Students and Faculty:

DO NOT go to the campus unless told it is okay by school officials after an emergency. If you go to the campus, you may be putting yourself and others in danger. DO check your local TV or radio station, on the Internet at rlc.edu, or by calling 618-437-5321. If there is an emergency, the phone lines may become busy or needed for official business.

DO listen and watch for announcement when on campus to ensure it is safe to move around.

AEDs

There are Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in many campus buildings; portable units are also available by contacting the RLC Police Department at 1911 (campus phone) or 618-525-1911 (cell phone or off-campus). This life saving equipment is available to assist individuals who may be suffering from sudden cardiac.

Knowing how to use these devices and where they are located can increase the survival rate of a heart attack. Locations of these devices are denoted in the campus Fire Safety Plan and on the evacuation maps posted around campus. You may also contact your campus Facilities Department for more information.

What should I do when needing to use an AED?If an AED is activated notify emergency personnel immediately by calling 9-1-1 (cell phone or off-campus) or 1911 (from a campus phone)

Is a key needed to access or use the AED machine?No.

Are there instructions on how to use the AED?Printed instructions and graphics are on the machine. Some AEDs have voice prompts to guide the user. View the video above for additional instructions. If not an emergency, we recommend you obtain training by using the information above.